38. Simple Question
495 Words
Mitsuo was hovering. He glanced at his clock and nervously bit his lip. It took all his willpower not to begin pacing, it just wouldn't do if he would appear all pathetic and nervous like a –
Oh, who was he kidding?
His stomach felt like it was on several tight knots and his palms were sweaty.
He glanced at his clock again.
They had finished shooting half an hour ago, and she still hadn't showed up. He was situated at the main entrance of the studio, waiting for her to come out after changing out of her costume and into her regular clothes.
Today was the day he was finally going to do it. Mitsuo prayed to every single kami he could name – which was not really that many – that for once, she would show up alone, without her loyal tag-along friends.
He was nervous enough about the thought of finally confronting her – if he had to do so in front an audience he knew for certain that the shyness would kick in and he would be rendered tongue-tied. It had taken countless pep talks just to get him to get this far – which was lying in wait by the doors so he would be able to corner her before she left work.
Yeah, that surely didn't appear pathetic at all.
The deities and spirits seemed to have been in an amiable mood this particular day, for when Izumi finally appeared into the lobby of the building, she was all by herself. She spotted the nervously fidgeting man who was idling by the main entrance almost immediately, and had to swallow the smile threatening to spread onto her painted lips.
Really, it was about damn time, too. Had he kept her waiting any longer, she just might have had to take the matters to her own pretty little hands. Izumi was a modern woman, and she would not be afraid of making the initiative – she simply preferred not to.
She halted in front of him.
"Good evening, Mitsuo-san," she greeted him pleasantly, her brown eyes twinkling ever so slightly with amusement. "What are you doing here so late? I thought you would have left already."
Mitsuo swallowed nervously. It was now or never.
He willingly leapt into the fire.
"Actually, Izumi-san, I was waiting for you," he managed to stammer out.
"Oh, really?" Izumi exclaimed in a surprise that was not fully genuine. "Was there something you wanted to talk to me about?" she coaxed ever so subtly.
"I… I wanted to ask you something."
"Yes?" Izumi urged in anticipation.
Mitsuo's stomach knotted some more when he finally spilled out his proposal.
"Would you want to go out with me?"
Please? his mind added despairingly.
Silence greeted his words, and Mitsuo was literally holding his breath.
The smile finally took over the beautiful actress' painted lips.
"Why, Mitsuo-san, I thought you'd never ask," Izumi purred as she leaned in and kissed the stunned man's cheek.